TestDaF TDN 4: digital TestDaF format, scores and what universities require

TestDaF is the German test for people who plan to study in German, mostly in Germany. You cannot pass or fail it as a whole: each part gets its own level, and a university checks whether every part is high enough. One weak part can therefore block admission even when the others are strong. You do not need a course to prepare, because the test provider publishes sample tasks with answers for free.

Who needs TestDaF and where to take it

TestDaF, Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache, is run by g.a.s.t., the Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung. Every university in Germany accepts its certificate as proof of German. Under the German framework RO-DT, TDN 4 in all parts in general proves the language level for every degree programme.^1·2

Vienna accepts TestDaF as well. The University of Vienna counts it as C1 with TDN 4 in all parts, and TDN 3 in all parts is enough for the A2 proof it asks for at application. You cannot sit the test in Austria, though: the g.a.s.t. centre search returns an empty list for Austria. There are roughly 550 centres in 100 countries. The digital test is taken on a computer at a centre and costs €210 in Germany, while other countries pay one of three country-group prices. Whether TestDaF, DSH or a C1 certificate fits you better is covered in the article on proof of German for university.^3–5

How the digital TestDaF is structured

The four parts always come in the same order: reading, listening, writing, speaking. You type the short answers in listening and both texts in writing. In speaking you hear each task through a headset, answer an imaginary conversation partner, and your answer is recorded.⁶

Time and number of tasks can vary slightly per part, because everyone also works on trial tasks that are not scored. The test is still the same length for everyone. You cannot go back to a task you have finished.⁶

Together the four parts in the table take about 190 minutes. There is a break after each part. You cannot take single parts: a certificate is issued only for all four. The paper TestDaF still runs, and its writing part has a single task.^5·6

How TestDaF turns points into TDN levels

A computer marks reading and listening, while trained raters mark the short listening answers, writing and speaking against fixed criteria. Each part is converted to a scale of 0 to 20 points. Up to 4 points is «unter TDN 3», 5 to 9 is TDN 3, 10 to 15 is TDN 4 and 16 to 20 is TDN 5. There is no overall result, and the certificate lists the level of each part.^1·7

For the European framework g.a.s.t. gives only a range: TDN 3, 4 and 5 are assigned to B2 and C1. WU, the Vienna University of Economics and Business, is more specific and lists TestDaF with TDN 4 in all parts among its C1 certificates.^1·8

In this example reading earns 17 points and TDN 5, writing 9 points and TDN 3, one point short of TDN 4. Strong reading does not make up for weak writing, because each part is scored on its own. What a university makes of this profile depends on its rule.

TestDaF in admission rules: TDN 4 and the sum of levels

«16 points» means two different things with TestDaF. On the scale of one part, 16 points is where TDN 5 begins. In admission rules the same number means something else. According to g.a.s.t., some universities admit on a points model of 14 to 16, counting the sum of the four TDN levels, and decide themselves whether TDN 5 in one part offsets TDN 3 in another. A sum of 16 comes from TDN 4 in every part, but also from, for example, 5+4+3+4.^1·7

The Technical University of Munich, TUM, requires TDN 4 in all four parts. The University of Hamburg accepts a total of at least 15 if three parts reach at least TDN 4 and one at least TDN 3. The sample profile, with a sum of 16 and writing at TDN 3, is enough for Hamburg but not for TUM, the University of Vienna, TU Wien or WU, which ask for TDN 4 in all parts.^3·8–11

If a university lowers the requirement for one programme, that admission does not carry over to another programme or another university with different requirements. So check the list of the university and programme you apply to. How TDN compares with the pass marks of other exams is explained in the article on points needed to pass a German exam.²

TestDaF Schreiben: a sample task with comments

The first writing task asks for an argumentative text of at least 200 words. The g.a.s.t. demo version gives 30 minutes for it, and a word counter runs on screen. We wrote the task below ourselves; it is not from official materials.¹²

Die Studierendenzeitung Ihrer Hochschule sammelt Beiträge zu der Aussage: „Alle Vorlesungen sollten aufgezeichnet und online gestellt werden.“

Nehmen Sie Stellung zu dieser Aussage und begründen Sie Ihre Meinung. Gehen Sie auf ein mögliches Gegenargument ein. Machen Sie einen Vorschlag, wie Ihre Hochschule vorgehen könnte.

Schreiben Sie mindestens 200 Wörter.

(A student newspaper collects opinions on recording all lectures and putting them online. Take a position with reasons, deal with one counter-argument, and propose what the university should do.)

Model answer, 203 words:

An unserer Hochschule wird seit dem letzten Semester darüber gestritten, ob alle Vorlesungen aufgezeichnet und online gestellt werden sollten. Ich bin der Meinung, dass Aufzeichnungen zum Standard werden sollten, allerdings nur mit klaren Regeln.

Für Aufzeichnungen spricht vor allem, dass Studierende ihr Studium flexibler organisieren können. Wer neben dem Studium arbeitet oder Kinder betreut, kann eine Vorlesung nicht immer um acht Uhr morgens besuchen. Außerdem hilft eine Aufzeichnung beim Lernen: Schwierige Stellen lassen sich mehrmals anhören, und wer Deutsch als Fremdsprache spricht, kann Fachbegriffe in Ruhe nachschlagen.

Gegner der Idee befürchten, dass die Hörsäle leer bleiben und der Austausch mit den Lehrenden verloren geht. Dieses Argument ist ernst zu nehmen, denn gerade Rückfragen machen eine Vorlesung lebendig. Ich selbst nutze Aufzeichnungen jedoch vor allem zur Prüfungsvorbereitung und gehe trotzdem in den Hörsaal, weil ich dort direkt Fragen stellen kann.

Deshalb schlage ich vor, dass die Hochschule alle großen Vorlesungen aufzeichnet, die Videos aber erst eine Woche nach dem Termin freischaltet. Seminare und Übungen sollten dagegen weiterhin nur vor Ort stattfinden. So bleibt der direkte Austausch erhalten, und niemand verpasst den Stoff, nur weil er arbeiten muss.

Insgesamt halte ich Aufzeichnungen also für eine sinnvolle Ergänzung des Studiums, solange sie die Präsenzlehre nicht ersetzen.

Raters check whether the text stays on topic, covers every point of the task, actually argues, uses precise and varied language, and stays understandable despite some errors. For TDN 4, g.a.s.t. describes writing that is largely coherent and structured, where language errors do not get in the way of understanding. At TDN 3, writing on academic topics is simplified, and errors may already hinder understanding.^7·13

The first paragraph of the answer states the position at once. The second gives two reasons, the third presents the opponents' objection and replies to it, the fourth proposes a policy for the university, and the last sentence sums up. These changes would pull the text down:

1. No counter-argument. One point of the task stays open, however good the reasons are.
2. Under 200 words. The task sets a minimum, and the counter shows how far you have got.
3. Reasons as a bare list. The points are there, but the coherence that the TDN 4 description names explicitly is gone.

TestDaF results, retakes and the combined certificate

Results of the digital test appear in the g.a.s.t. portal after about three weeks. You can ask for a review within four weeks of the results; it is paid, and the fee comes back if the result is corrected.¹

You may retake TestDaF as often as you need, but g.a.s.t. advises taking time to prepare before registering again. Since 12 May 2026 the best part results of digital tests taken within at most six months can be merged into one combined certificate. It costs €29, and each university decides whether to accept it.^1·5

The TestDaF certificate itself never expires, but universities set their own limits. The University of Vienna takes it up to three years old on the day of application, TU Wien for two years from the exam date. Limits for other certificates are in the article on how long a German certificate is valid.^1·3·11

Preparing for the digital TestDaF

testdaf.de offers free sample tasks for all four parts with audio, video, transcripts and answers, plus a video tutorial for each task type. At a test centre you can try the digital exam itself in a practice session, a Vorbereitungstermin, subject to availability and currently free.¹⁴

1. Do the sample reading and listening in 55 and 40 minutes and note which part is weaker.
2. Write both texts in 60 minutes and check them against the criteria discussed above.
3. Record your answers to the speaking tasks with the given speaking time and listen for missing task points.
4. Give the weakest part the most time: universities with a TDN 4 rule look at every part.
5. After you register for the exam, free model tests wait in the g.a.s.t. portal, and one more was added on 12 February 2026.¹⁵

Other German exams are listed on the German certificates overview.

Источники

· 15 проверены 08.11.2026

1. 1TestDaF: FAQ Ergebnisse und Zertifikat, g.a.s.t.
2. 2Rahmenordnung über Deutsche Sprachprüfungen für das Studium an deutschen Hochschulen (RO-DT), HRK und KMK
3. 3Deutschkenntnisse, Universität Wien, Aufnahmeverfahren
4. 4TestDaF-Prüfungszentren nach Land, Österreich, g.a.s.t.
5. 5TestDaF: FAQ allgemein, g.a.s.t.
6. 6Aufbau des digitalen TestDaF, g.a.s.t.
7. 7Auswertung des digitalen TestDaF, g.a.s.t.
8. 8Sprachnachweise, WU Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien
9. 9Sprachnachweise, Technische Universität München
10. 10Deutschkenntnisse, Universität Hamburg
11. 11Competence in German, TU Wien
12. 12Digitaler TestDaF, Demo-Version: Beispielaufgaben Schreiben, g.a.s.t.
13. 13Beschreibung der TestDaF-Niveaus (TDN), g.a.s.t.
14. 14Vorbereitung auf den digitalen TestDaF, g.a.s.t.
15. 15Digitaler TestDaF: Neuer Modelltest, g.a.s.t. · от 12.02.2026